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Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT

Utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in academic research. A good practice guide for access and benefit-sharing

SWISS ACADEMIES REPORTS, VOL. 11, NO 4, 2016

This guide informs the academic community – researchers and research managers alike – about the system that governs access to genetic resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge and the sharing of the benefits arising from their use, as established by the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Nagoya Protocol. Along Art. 20.1 the brochure explains the steps that researchers must take when accessing biological resources for research purposes and it informs about the Agreement on Access and Benefit-sharing for Academic Research (ABS) legislation in Switzerland.

  • Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences a+

    STEM 2026: Where Switzerland stands today

    Twelve years on from the first STEM Youth Barometer, the new 2026 edition reveals that interest in STEM has remained largely stable, stereotypes persist, and women underestimate their own abilities. At the same time, the findings are more nuanced than expected and point to clear areas for improvement.

  • Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT

    Beyond the transaction: commodity trade and sustainable development

    This factsheet maps the sustainability links of commodity trade, identifies knowledge gaps, and outlines options for commodity hubs, including Switzerland, to reduce economic, environmental and social sustainability risks.

  • Swiss Young Academy SYA

    Impact of AI on Early Career Researchers: Challenges, Opportunities and Responsibilities

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming science and is therefore profoundly reshaping the work of Early Career Researchers. Against this backdrop, the publication Impact of AI on Early Career Researchers: Challenges, Opportunities, and Responsibilities, developed by members of the Swiss Young Academy, namely Emmanuel Senft, Sabrina H. Kessler, Pamela Delgado, Devi Bühler, and Alexandre Bovet, offers a timely interdisciplinary reflection on these changes. The booklet examines both the opportunities and risks of AI across five key areas – research, teaching, science communication, policymaking, and sustainability – while also addressing critical issues such as research integrity, data privacy, misinformation, governance, and environmental impact. It further highlights the responsibilities of Early Career Researchers and higher education institutions in promoting AI literacy, transparency, ethical standards, and responsible use of AI in science.

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